We started off from The Ship Inn, junction with Brandon Creek at 06.35. We soon
breasted up with Frogmoore II and had a mass breakfast. We did a de-breast coasting up to
the Cut Off Channel AG Wright Sluice weir steam (08.10). The Denver free self pump out
worked OK, then both Earnest and
Frogmoore II had a water fill up. After this we moved the boats to Denver Lock waiting area, for
the 11.00ish traverse
to Salter's Lode.
John Chapman introduced us to Seymour, the Denver Complex
Superintendent. We wandered around and looked at new lock down to Cut Off Channel.
This was meant to open the next Tuesday, but we penned through the TNC Fleet Auxiliary - EA
“Hardy Boat”.
Mike Fairweather the Denver Sluice locky got a bit annoyed at our late departure from Denver to
Salter's Lode so we set of individually at
11.30. Earnest adopted the direct approach, but still had to fly up into
Salter's Lode Lock Cut as the flood was now well coming in. Only a small piece
of concrete was removed from the entrance piling! . Captain Beeky got lumbered with the
Frog boat and adopted the go downstream / wind and come flying up in the flood.
Neil was fortunately videoing this comedy caper. The outer channel pile with a
red maker on was given a severe shaking and a corresponding thump on the piles
opposite. Paul (still hanging out his washing and JC seemed non plussed), no
harm done, Nothing broken.
Next followed a long talk with Paul about getting out
of the Old Bedford, through the Salter's Lode Old Bedford Sluice. Although this
is EA and Paul is MLC, he still is in control of it. He said that the only boat
he ever got through it was eight years ago, not long after he was became the Salter's
Lode Locky. He showed us some piccies. This formed part of an article in
Canal and River Boat.
After that we still had time to kill, so firstly we did some depth sounding in
the Old Bedford, by the last bridge - it was not good news, only 2ft 4ins deep!!
Then Neil and John go
to play with the Old Bedford Sluice as the tide makes a level. At this point
(this was a falling tide) we pushed the pointy gates open and used the winches to
winch the gates apart. Although we don't have a windlass we managed to turn the
spindles by hand and then jump up and down on the hawsers to jerk the gates
apart, then have another twiddle on the winch. At low water we gave up, as we
did not want to get caught with the gates cranked open. Neil measured the gap at
this point.....7ft 2ins...........it would now be possible!!!….we had stared off
with a gap of only 6ft!!!
After this we retreated back to the boats (17.00) and
cast off for Outwell Basin. On the way Earnest stopped on the Mullicourt Aqueduct
and we took a lot of photies and video of this and the Middle Level Main Drain. We
arrived at Outwell. Basin at 19.00. No other boats apart from Frogmoore was there. We
had a jolly dredging time to get Earnest in to the bank.
That evening the crew,
minus Neil go for a pint in the Red Lion, the Elgoods Bitter was off, so we
don’t return. After this we all had a fish and chips supper on the picnic
table. John Chapman invited his new found friend, a recently redundant Pedleys
Chicken preparation woman – AKA as “Chicken Lady”. Fairly early to bed.

Departure from the Ship Inn, Brandon Creek (the village!) Ely Ouse.

Departure from the Ship Inn, Brandon Creek (the village!) Ely Ouse.

Denver Cruising Club. Ely Ouse.

Rare sight of JC steering the breasted pair! Ely Ouse.

Our normal Ely Ouse breasted up posture.

Hilgay Bridge. Closed Windmill pub to left. Ely Ouse.

Confluence with River Wissey. Ely Ouse.

Frogmoore coming on to Denver Sanitary Station. Ely Ouse.

The AG Wright Sluice into the Cut Off Channel at Denver.

The new lock down to the Cut Off Channel. Denver Complex.

The siltation island in the Tidal Great Ouse below Denver Sluice.

Denver Sluice.

Denver Sluice. looking down Tidal Great Ouse.

Denver Lock.

Denver locking times.

Denver Sluice.

Denver Sluice - the lock section.

The AG Wright Sluice to the Cut Off Channel from the Denver Sluice Channel.

The AG Wright Sluice.

I've got a Denver Complex.

Denver Complex control block.

The AG Wright Sluice.

Looking up the Cut off Channel at the Diversion Sluice (for sending water
back to Essex) and the new lock down to the Cut Off Channel.

The new lock down to the Cut Off Channel.

The new lock down to the Cut Off Channel.

The new lock down to the Cut Off Channel.

The AG Wright Sluice.

Locking the EA boat down to the Cut Off Channel.

Locking the EA boat down to the Cut Off Channel.

The Jenyns Arms at Denver Sluice.

Locking the EA boat down to the Cut Off Channel.

Locking the EA boat down to the Cut Off Channel.

The Tidal Great Ouse from Denver Lock - tide now nearly in and silt bar just
covered.

Mike Fairweather, the Denver Locky and JC

Leaving Denver Lock. Tidal River Great Ouse

Earnest going down to Salter's Lode. Tidal River Great Ouse

Earnest approaching Salter's Lode. Tidal River Great Ouse

Safely in Salter's Lode Lock.

Safely in Salter's Lode Lock. Paul the locky waits in his shed as the
slow guillotine comes down.

A new wang to Earnest's Bow!

The Frog Boat approaches Salter's Lode. Tidal River Great Ouse

Frogmoore passing Salter's Lode. Tidal River Great Ouse

Frogmoore turning..............Tidal River Great Ouse

Frogmoore about to wang the marker post!.............Tidal River Great Ouse

Frogmoore wang's the marker post!..............Tidal River Great Ouse

Frogmoore bounces into piling!.............Tidal River Great Ouse

Cap'n Beeky........we award you dix points for style!!!

Frogmoore moors up above Salter's Lode.

JC, Terry S and Cap'n Beeky get ready to survey the Old Bedford River.